WILSON'S CREEK -- THE GHOSTS; THE BATTLE

The Wilson’s Creek battlefield is reportedly haunted. Given to the violent emotions that took place there is an "emotional imprint on the landscape,"  according to the 'ghost hunters' that have been in the area. Spirits of those killed have become trapped, unable to move on because of the shock of their sudden deaths.  People have reported apparitions of soldiers on Bloody Hill, hearing the sound of guns and cannon. Confederate soldiers are more often reported than those from the Union.  People have reported areas of abnormal cold and hearing the sounds of people moving and talking in the nearby woods at night.

The Ray House, the home of John Ray and his family, is also reported to be haunted. The Rays, suddenly caught in the battle, took shelter in their cellar of their home and survived unharmed.  Their home became a field hospital for the wounded and dying left behind. 

The Battle of Wilson’s Creek, often referred to as the "Bull Run of the West,"  was the first major Civil War battle west of the Mississippi River.

Union Gen Lyon did not want to give up this region.  Commanding a force of 5,400 soldiers at Springfield, he was up against 2 Southern forces commanded by Confederate Generals Price and McCulloch.  This early in the war, the Southern troops were poorly trained, poorly equipped and poorly armed.  But, in man power, the combined force of Price and McCulloch was nearly twice that of Lyon.  Lyon, known for his rash, emotional decisions, planned an attack for August 10.

Lyon sent Col Franz Sigel with 1,200 men to attack from the rear while Lyon surprised the Confederates just after dawn at their camp at Wilson’s Creek. The initial artillery barrage sent the Confederate camp into a panic.  It looked like the day was going to belong to the Union until Sigel mistook a Louisiana regiment for an Iowa regiment.  Lacking standard uniforms, the Southern soldiers were dressed in whatever they had.  

In the August heat and humidity, the armies battled throughout the morning. The worst of the fighting was at a ridge which would become known as “Bloody Hill.”  Combat raged for over 5 hours, often at close quarters, with the tide of battle turning several times. 

The Confederates attacked the Union forces 3 times that day but failed to break through the Union line.  When the Confederates pushed Sigel back, the tide turned against Lyon’s force.  Although Lyon was killed during one of the Confederate assaults, the Union managed to hold its ground.  Maj Samuel Sturgis assumed command of Lyon's frorces. The Confederates had routed Sigel’s column, and following the 3rd  Confederate attack, which ended at 11:00AM, the Confederates withdrew.  

Following Lyon’s death, Sturgis realized his men were exhausted, disorganized and ammunition was low; he ordered a Union retreat to Springfield. The Confederates were too disorganized and ill-equipped to pursue. The Union retreated to Springfield and then back to the rail head at Rolla, MO, 100 miles to the northeast. Southwestern Missouri was secured for the Confederates.

Losses were heavy. The battle resulted in approximately 2,500 casualties, 1300 Union casualties, including Lyon, the first Union general killed in action, and over 1200 casualties for the South. 

This Confederate victory carried Gen Price and his Missouri State Guard as far as Lexington, north east of Kansas City.  In late October, a rump convention of pro-secessionists, convened by Governor Claiborne Jackson in Neosho passed an ordinance of secession. Wilson’s Creek, the most significant 1861 battle in Missouri, gave the Confederates control of southwestern Missouri.

To the Confederacy, it was the Battle of Oak Hills.  A monument has been placed on the Battlefield.   Inscription:  The Battle of Oak Hills
August 10, 1861 
In early August 1861, the Missouri State Guard under the command of Major General Sterling Price was camped along Wilson's Creek preparing to march into Springfield Missouri ten miles north east of their encampment Lyon. After 5:00 AM they were attacked by Federal forces under the command of Major General Nathaniel Lyon who commenced firing upon Price's army and Confederate forces under the command of Brigadier General Benjamin McCulloch.  For 6 hours the Missouri State Guard assaulted the high ground, now known as Bloody Hill, where Lyon was killed and Federal forces had to withdraw back to Springfield leaving the field of battle in the hands of the Guard and 
confederate troops.  More victories were to follow for the Guard -- the citizen soldiers of Missouri -- who wished only to be left alone and live in peace.